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Professor Robin Baker to join South East LEP Board

The Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, Professor Robin Baker CMG, is joining the Board and Executive Board of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Professor Baker spent 21 years in the British Council, serving in London, South Africa, Hungary, Greece and Russia where he was Cultural Attaché at the British Embassy in Moscow. As the Council’s Deputy Director General, Professor Baker was responsible for the Council's global network of offices in more than 100 countries and all its operational work in education, science, the arts and creative industries.

He was Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent from 2005 to 2007, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chichester from 2007 to 2010 and is a Fellow of University College London. In the 2005 New Year’s Honours he was appointed Companion of Most Distinguished Order of St Michael & St George (CMG).

Professor Baker said: “I am delighted to be elected to the board as the representative for regional higher and further education. Higher and further education makes an enormous contribution to the prosperity and wellbeing of regional economies and as the UK witnesses the impact of global economic instability, the importance of education to recovery is critical.

“Canterbury Christ Church University is one of the largest providers of higher education for the public services, as well as a great supporter of local small and medium enterprises. Our relationship and long-established connections with the public sector in the South East make us ideally placed to represent higher education at a regional level and I very much look forward to being part of a team working towards LEP's vision - 'to create the most enterprising economy in England'."

South East LEP chairman, John Spence, said: “I am delighted to welcome Professor Baker to the South East LEP Board.

“Universities play a key role in creating enterprises and driving our overall competitiveness and the strong higher education institutions sector we have will help the South East LEP to create the most enterprising economy in England.”

Professor Baker will represent Kent higher education providers on the South East LEP Board, and all higher education and further education providers on the partnership’s Executive Group.

Notes to Editor

Professor Baker is replacing Professor Colin Riordan, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Essex on the Executive Board.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership is a partnership involving leaders from business, local government, and further and higher education which is working towards creating the most enterprising economy in England. It covers East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock.

It is the largest strategic partnership of its kind outside London. It represents a combined population of 3.9 million people and is home to more than 130,000 businesses, which provide more than 1.3 million jobs. It is a critical port and gateway area in a strategic location between London, Europe and the global economy.

The area covered by the LEP is the country’s economic powerhouse contributing £63 billion a year to the national economy.

For more information on the South East LEP see here . You can also follow SELEP on Twitter @southeastlep

Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury Christ Church University is a modern university with a particular strength in higher education for the public services.

With nearly 20,000 students, and five campuses across Kent and Medway, its courses span a wide range of academic and professional subject areas.

93% of our recent UK undergraduates are in employment or further studies six months after completing their studies

Christ Church is the number one choice for local people looking to study at university in Kent (2010 UCAS).

We are the South East’s largest provider of courses for public service careers (outside of London).

2012 is the University’s Golden Jubilee, reflecting on 50 years of higher education and innovation.